Pneumatic signal for railways



(No Model.)

J. K. LEEDY.

PNEUMATIC SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

No. 398,632. Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

N PETERS. Plumb-Lithographer. Wlahmglum 0.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN K. LEED Y, OF TOMS BROOK, ASSIGNOR 0 11 l.WO-TIIIRDS TO NOAH V. SOLENBERGEI ANI) GERMAN SMITH, ()F \VINFIIEQTEP, VIRGINIA.

PNEUMATlC SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 898,632, dated February 26, 1889.

Application filed December 8, 1887. Serial No. 257,387.

To (1Z7 1/;710112 it may concern.-

Be it lnn'iwn that 1, JOHN H. LEEDY, a citl zen of the llnited States, residing at Toms Brook, in the county of Shenandoah and State of I' irginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Railroad Signals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in whichlaigurc it is an elevation of a section of a railway-track, showing a post supporting two of my .improved signals and their respective arrows pointing in opposite directions. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing my improved system of signals between two stations. Fig. i) is a vertical sectional view illustrating a post, its l l s1gnals,the1r connections with two groundpipcs, also showing the ground-pipe which cstablishes direct; communication between two stations. lfig. t is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the signals used at the terminus oi. a ground-pipe and without the plug in the main pipe, as generally used.

This invention relates to a new and 1111-,

proved railway stem of signal service, the ()DJOOlJ of which is to insure greater safety in travel and to enable the e1n1iiloyes on a rail- 1 road to prevent collisions of cars; also to warn i persons thing the line of a railroad of an appreaching train and the direction from which 5 a train may be approaching.

The following description of my invention, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, will enable others skilled in the art to understand it.

et'erring to the annexed drawings by letter, A designates a single line of railroad track connecting the sigual stations X X. At these stations are loea ted the train-starters or signaling-otticers ot the road. From one signalin g station to another, and preferably buried. beneath the surface of the ground, extend three air-pipes, 13,13 ,and C, as indicated in the diagram, Fig. 2,which pipes communisate with certain visible signals,hereinafter l'ully describm'l.

I usually locate at each signal-stat ion a su itafble air-receiver or stm'age-vcssel and an engine for compressing air therein, together with suitable cocks or cut-off valves under control of the station-keeper or signaling- (No model) officer. The storage-vessel and engines at the stations are not herein shown, as they maybe constructed and connected to the ends of the air-conduct ing pipes in any suitable manner. At suitable intervals along the track A, and on one side thereof, I erect post:s.l),firn1ly established in the ground. Each post I) provided on that side nearest the track with two signals, G G, under control of the stationkeepers at the stations X X, and with two arrows, E IQ, of a suitable color, which arrows are rigidly secured to said post and point in opposite directions, for a purpose hereinafter explained. The movable signals on each post .I) are arranged one ((-4) above the other, ((i'.) and both signals present when exposed to view the same color, preferably red. Each movable signal is constructed as follows:

ll designates a cylinder, which is opaque and of any suitable length and diameter. On top of this cylinder is suitably secured a trtmsparent vessel or cylinder, ll, of a length and diameter sullicient to contain and clearly expose to view a cylindrical signal, I, when the latter is raised out of the soekctor opaque cylinder II. ()n the lower end of the signal 1, and coinciding wit h the vertical axis thereof, is a valve-stem, u, having secured on its lower end a conepiston-valve, 7), adapted when fully raised to hermetically close against an in- VGi'ttitl conical ground seat, 11, formed in the end of a screw -threaded neck, 0, through which the stem a passes freely, which neck 0 is or may be integral with the opaque cylinder H.

Both signals G El on each post are constructed alike. The higher signals of the said posts are conncij-tml air-tight with vertical branches (I of the underground ]inepipc l3, and the lower signals, G, on said posts are similarly connected by vertical branch pipes 1' with the underground line-pipe C.

The line-pipe 1:3 communicates atone end with an air compressing and forcing device of any suitable construction located at the station X, the opposite end of which line-pipe 1-3 is closed by a plu The line-pipe C communicates at one end with an air-compressing engine located at the station X, the opposite end of which pipe B is also closed by a suitable plu the pipes B and G the valves 7) in the said vertical branches will be forced up tightly against their seats I), and be held in such elevated position until the pressure in the pipes is reduced, when they will fall of their own weight. The air above these valves Z) when they are elevated may find its exit between the joints of the parts, or through an orifice, a, in the cylinder H, as may be desired.

The arrows E point in one direction for the upper signals, G, and the arrows E point in an opposite direction for the lower signals, 1 The underground line-pipe B has connected to its ends signals J J, located in a convenient position in the station-houses X X, which are at the termini of the track A, and these signals J J are preferably constructed like the signals G G, but of a different color. A similar system of signals is adapted for every section of track between two stations, the system terminating in each station house or oliice in two red signals, and one signal of a different color in full view of the station.- keeper and completely under his control.

The operation of myimproved system is as follows: Suppose a train of cars leaves the station X in the direction of the arrow 3 ,111- dicated in full lines on Fig. 2. this station will immediately indicate this fact to the ofiicer at the station X by causing the signal J to be exposed to view in the manner above described. At the same time the oflicer in station X will cause all of the signals G on posts D (over which he alone has control) to indicate that a train is on the track A, moving in the direction of the arrows y and E. If there is no train 011 section A, this fact can readily be made known to the 0th- The officer at i officer in station X through the special signals J J, and the officer in station X will cause the signals G to appear along the entire line of track from one station to another.

, Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with pneumatic sig nals mounted on posts and communicating with signals in remote stations, of signal 'arrows fixed to said posts and pointing in opposite directions, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described. V

2. A pneumatic signal composed of an opaque cylinder, a superimposed transparent cylinder, a guiding cylinder or barrel, and a colored vertically-movable signal provided with a valve-stem, and a valve adapted to close against a seat when the colored signal is raised and exposed to view, substantially as described.

3. The combination of an opaque cylinder, a transparent cylinder, an inclosed verticallymovable visible signal, a pneumatic tube, and

a valve, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described. I f

In testimony whereof affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN LEE DY.

Witnesses: 7 H

J OEL S. BORDEN, W. C. PHILLIPS. 

